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Europeans, Isabelle is just like a betrayer to her own race and culture. Speaking the native language to the locals is a serious matter because it may cause suspicion in the
community and “ruin” Antoine’s chance of promotion (New Anatomies 21). In addition to Isabelle’s preference of language use, the scene that Isabelle hums “Arabic
modulations” spontaneously also shows Isabelle’s sincere attitude toward the foreign culture (New Anatomies 5). Finally, in religious preference, Isabelle becomes the faithful believer of Islam and claims that “[t]here is no god but Allah, Allah is the only God and Muhammed is his prophet” (New Anatomies 7-8). Being in North Africa, Isabelle
embraces the new culture and has adapted herself to it. Isabelle’s behaviours have shown that she is different from the rest of the Europeans. The distinguishing characteristic of Isabelle is what makes her incompatible with the Europeans.
3.5 Isabelle, the Europeans, and the Local Arabian Friends
The conflict between Isabelle and the Europeans is intense. As a visitor of North Africa, Isabelle intends to acquire knowledge and to explore the place by having direct interaction with the locals. Isabelle treats the locals with sincerity, and the locals leave a good impression on her. The first native Isabelle encounters is Yasmina, who is forced to become a servant for resisting to marry her cousin. Yasmina’s rebellious experience moves Isabelle and Isabelle even decides to write down Yasmina’s life story. It is the rebellious spirit that ties Yasmina and Isabelle together. Besides Yasmina, Isabelle also makes friends with her local friends Saleh and Bou Saadi, who also greet her with respect and kindness.
In the play, Isabelle’s psychological conflicts are not obviously manifested. It turns
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out that Isabelle rarely senses the difference out of the foreigners but is apt to identify herself with the locals. Isabelle is willing to take a stand on supporting the locals.
Evidence is that Isabelle would rather wander the country with the company of her two Arabian friends than accept French Captain’s invitation. The preference is considered “a taste for cockroaches” in the eyes of Captain (New Anatomies 30).
CAPTAIN. But mademoiselle, if you wished to see the country, you should have come to us. We would be only too pleased to escort you and you would find our company much more entertaining than that of those sandfleas.
ISABELLE. You shouldn’t speak of the Arabs in that manner, Captain. They resent it.
CAPTAIN. You must tell me how to run the country, mademoiselle. It’ll pass the time as we travel. Dunes get monotonous.
ISABELLE. I am travelling with my friends, Captain.
CAPTAIN. What? Are there more of you? Do we have a whole boarding school of romantic young girls?
ISABELLE. My friends Saleh and Bou Saadi.
CAPTAIN. She calls these dregs of humanity friends. Ah, youth, the female heart. I admire your spirit, mademoiselle, but it is the duty of the French Army to rescue damsels in distress.
(New Anatomies 30-31)
Captain invites Isabelle to travel with French colonizers, but is turned down by her and being advised that his words and contemptuous attitude may offend the Arabs. Upon hearing Isabelle’s rejection and advice, Captain comprehends her preference as decision
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made by an unsophisticated and naïve young girl who is unable to make appropriate judgment. Isabelle, however, further refuses Captain with a bitterer way by saying that he reminds her of “a heavy cascade of camel piss” (New Anatomies 31). “I’d rather kiss the open mouth of a Maccabean corpse dead of the Asiatic cholera than ‘travel’ with you, Captain,” responds Isabelle (New Anatomies 31). By rejecting Captain’s offer of
protection, Isabelle already strikes Captain’s male dignity in the first place and her harsh humiliation infuriates Captain even more. Therefore, in order to consolidate his male dignity and to regain his authorized power, Captain starts to find fault with Isabelle.
Eventually, Isabelle is forced to leave the desert within a time limit for not having the French permission to travel. As far as Captain is concerned, Isabelle is permitted to travel in North Africa, which is French territory, simply because she is a European;
nevertheless, Isabelle’s rebellious spirit alerts him to the danger of possible threat to both the male and the national authority. Isabelle is expelled from French territory due to the fact that she takes sides with the locals. Isabelle’s behavior alienates her from the Europeans and turns her into a foreigner to the Europeans.
It is not the physical appearance of Isabelle that invokes the sense of otherness to the other Europeans but her distinctive behaviors. The fact that Isabelle is aware of a possible threat she may posit to the patriarchal society explains why she constantly emphasizes that she does not intend to do harm to anyone. Isabelle notices her peculiarity but tries to get along with the sense of otherness within her. Being treated as an “agitator,” Isabelle understands that the conflict between her and the French will never diminish (New
Anatomies 33). The French detest the Arabs; therefore, as soon as the French realize that
Isabelle stands for the Arabs, they try to get rid of Isabelle. Isabelle and the Arabs are‧ 國
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those who may cause possible threat to the French colonizer, and this similarity binds Isabelle and the Arabs together.